the Senate validates an agreement at the last minute and avoids budgetary paralysis

The US budget package of $467.5 billion was approved by Republicans and Democrats. The senators’ vote was the final step in ratifying the bill, which had already passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

On the gong. American senators validated an agreement on the budget on Friday March 8. The $467.5 billion package was approved by Republicans and Democrats, despite disagreement among several Republicans over certain spending. This green light, which includes half of the 12 laws to be adopted for the year 2024, allows a whole range of agencies and ministries to continue to operate, such as agriculture, commerce, justice, science, environment, housing and transport, until the end of the financial year, September 30.

Without this last minute agreement, these administrations would have been shut down in what the United States calls a “shutdown”. The bill had already been adopted on Wednesday by the House of Representatives, the most critical stage, because elected officials from the most right-wing fringe of Republicans, close to Donald Trump, had so far succeeded in blocking the process.

Republicans denounced excessive spending

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer welcomed a “big step” towards the adoption of a complete budget for the year. “To those who fear that divided governance means nothing ever gets done, this bipartisan package says otherwise: it helps parents, veterans, firefighters, farmers, school lunches and more.”, he added. Among other things, the conservatives considered certain expenditures excessive. “American taxpayers should not be used as a political piggy bank”said Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott.

The package also includes budget reductions of up to 10% for certain federal agencies that are in the crosshairs of Republicans, such as the FBI or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The budget “imposes severe cuts” to these agencies, “who, under the Biden administration, have threatened our freedoms and our economy”, declared the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson. The other half of the budget, which includes sensitive subjects, such as the army or border security, was postponed in a second envelope which must reach President Joe Biden’s desk by March 22.